Transcripts For CSPAN2 Key Capitol Hill Hearings 20140327

It would be the urban areas applying to the state with the criteria we build into the authorizing language setting aside specific funding would make those as part of the requirements the state would have to fund so what we would do is still identify the hazard analysis. The areas and types of activities and capabilities they would need to build in that area but it would give the state the ability to make those allocations. Part of this was welding this more collaborative so we have local jurisdictions in the state working together to come up with these final allocations and recommendations using criteria to drive that decision decision. Ike send us a little bit confused with respect to the communities and you have expanded it once again as i stated in my opening remarks to 39 communities so are you saying that those are the 39 communities that would be eligible to apply to states that others would not be . No, it would be based on in the case of some of the expansionexpansion s we looked at this year for the secretary. Last you if you remember we were capped in that cap is lifted this year. One of those concerns as some of the proximity in some communities is due to large tourist venues or Strategic Military installations that did noise factor into some of the other risks that were significant enough to look at. So i need to take my home state of florida. We have not identifieidentified every location that has a military presence but if you look at florida at 10dollar force base where we are getting the f35 up and running you have jackson where ph caught quadrants are at. None of these are necessarily on the security list but these would are the areas if there are concerns about threats. They could look at that verse is just looking at certain urban areas that are only designated. Moving on to another issue the npgp proposal seeks to change the focus of grants from terrorism to all hazards and now these programs were in large part established in response to the 9 11 attacks as the Ranking Member has eloquently pointed out and you know i personally dont believe the terrorist threat to the United States has diminished significantly since 9 11. There are a lot of incredible dangers around the world and a lot of terrorist threats that we still face so what is the rationale for changing the focus of these grants to all hazards when we know we have so many natural disasters and so is it that we will be able to keep our focus on terrorism threats . The prevention piece i dont think change is as much with the change in language and the Homeland Security grants have always allowed for all hazards base. What we want to focus on our consequences of events. The need for searchandrescue teams in the recent mudslide that is occurring in rushing to an the state or the searchandrescue teams were built of Homeland Security funds. Its more of a recognition that we need to build capability against potential consequences not just for specific one threat that there are elements within that are very germane to terrorism such as Fusion Centers and other activities and again this is where we think prioritizing that to ensure that funding that allows states to look at the consequences of the types of events they face. Mississippi got slammed with tornado several years ago. Many communities were literally the proverbial term wiped off the face of the map. It was the ability to deploy sources that allow that initial response to give Public Safety. It isnt just about the hazard. Its really about looking at the various consequences and these are applicable across a variety of events just like the mass casualty in boston. It could have been it an industrial accident producing a similar number of burned and traumatized patients. The capability respond to that. It doesnt detract from the prevention piece. Thank you. Thank you precis my time is up. I now turn to Ranking Member payne for five minutes of questions. Thank you madam chairman. We hear what you are saying that i have repeatedly been told that the goals of your grand consolidation proposal are to foster better collaboration. I am not convinced that achievement of these important goals warrens fundamental changing of the program as the chairwoman read into the record. Stakeholders including the National League of cities the National Association of counties in the interNational Association for firefighters to name a few have come up with a list of principles that in my view are very constructive guide posts for any grand reform effort. There are transparency, local involvement, flexibility and accountability, local funding terrorism prevention and incentives for work regionalization. Are you open to working with this committee and the stakeholders on the way the homeland Grant Program could be redefined to not only meet your goals but also to hear some principles outlined by stakeholder groups . Absolutely. Again we are basing this upon looking at some of the largescale threats this country faces and i was like to go to whats the worst thing in america. Its somehow a Nuclear Device is detonated in any city would require the full capabilities not only at the local jurisdictions in the state of impact not only the federal government at the nonimpacted jurisdictions. I think we have to look at this again what are the national gaps and capabilities based upon the most significant threats we face while recognizing each jurisdiction has unique responsibilities but i also have to go back to when may bypass governors we set up the imbalance of dealing directly through jurisdictions not involving the governors in that process and i were to reach all of the concerns as best we can in Building National capability. Director i know there have been some concerns about keeping it parochial but you have wanted out in your experiences in florida so let me point out my experiences in new jersey. We suffered through Hurricane Sandy and there are still issues about how those funds that we allocated are being handled by our governor and whether he is using them sometimes and political ways and so in new jersey we have concern with that ache as we have seen we still have communities that are still suffering a year later after congress has put those funds out there and i know a lot of it does not fall under you but thats our concern. We are concerned about giving that power to certain people when we have seen the funds have not necessarily gotten where they should need or used in a proper manner. I understand. I also understand the constitution was not built around the individuaindividua ls. It was built around the entire system and that is what im proposing is looking at the constitutional structure and the responsibilities that governors have under state constitutions. Then why was this grand never set the way it is . The grants originally came from the states. Jurisdictions were concerned that they werent getting the recognition and the funding directly. They went to congress and congress began funding and created the urban security areas. The urban security areas came after the original Homeland Security fund. It was not the origination of that. It came about jurisdictions coming to you looking to get funding or direct lakes and bypassing the states and so they were given that capability. Okay. I see my time is up. I yield back. The chair recognizes vice chair the committee the gentleman from mississippi mr. Mr. Palazzo. Thank you mr. Fugate for being here today. Im going to change the subject a little bit a topic that is on my mind and the mind of many communities around the nations Flood Insurance relief. I know you were in front of the senate panel i believe last year and we were discussing affordability issues with biggertwaters 2012 and you called on congress to help you with that and we responded and we did in a bipartisan bicameral way. Just this past friday the president signed into law the homeowner flooded insurance affordability act so the key word is affordability. We think we have given that to you. We all know biggertwaters had a lot of unintended consequences and our number one priority for many members of congress from the coastal areas is to make sure Flood Insurance remains available and affordable to the homeowners who need it. The law that was just recently signed by the president it was paid for. He keeps npgp on the path of solvency so let me move quickly. I know this law was signed this past friday but has fema began to plan for the implementation of this law . Yes sir. We were looking at the language prior to the senate actually taking it up. We are looking at timeframe she gave us to do refunds, also how to now change the rate increases there a certain language in there that it shall much exceed 18 so we are going back to that. You also have put in a Fee Structure so that Fee Structure will now have to go back so we set a point at which they will be collecting that and that collection once that data said it will not be collected immediately on all policies. It will be renewed so once we set that date we can see seed a year before everybody has paid the fee as they are renewing their policies. We have begun looking at the center currently working on the language and again as you can understand we have to look at this as an implementation with their two biggest priorities right now the recovery of previously paid fees and their insurance claims or not insurance claims but the insurance claims that will be retroactively reimbursed and setting up for their rights policy implementation rules and timeframes for the new increases in the Fee Structure. We need specific funding to implement this law as you did in biggertwaters. And again we are still looking at what the cost will be and whether or not it will be within that program with these additional fees and what that what cost. We are still running the analysis of what the additional costs would be. One of our challenges is because they receive if he is a percentage. When we do the refunds we still have not addressed the percentage of fees they collected as far as theyre having to pay any of that back. Whether we have to absorb that out of the program. Congress added a provision to provide immediate rate relief to the homebuyers that would eliminate the hold sales trigger. And the provision buyers are property of what it be allowed to assume the policies in the current rates of sellers. This would prevent homebuyers from seeing drastic Flood Insurance premium increases. While fema works with implementing the rest of the new law. We understand we hope that lives extremely swiftly because its definitely a wet blanket on real estate markets across the nation and caused homeowners a lot of grief. The lot was just signed friday. Do you know when its going to be set out to write your own . Congressman i will have to get back to you. Since this will be grandfathering a it preferred risk to a new homebuyer we have to make sure that the write your own has clear directions on the transaction takes place in this will be for the mortgage industry that where you have the requirement to have Flood Insurance that they are getting the preferred rate that was originally with the original seller. So we will have to basically do the current rate and make sure the right your wrongs in the administration have it transferred to a new buyer. We still have some questions we are working on what is the best way to do that in the training and time for implementing that but we will report back to you with that. Thank you and i just want to continue to urge you to act swiftly on this. You touched on the refunds real quick. In the meantime while all of this is being implemented and work out is there any advice that you can give us that we can provide her constituents so they can begin getting answers to their questions . I think its important to educate them that these new grandfather greats are transferable because its going to take time to get out to every agent and get that in the system so i think you can help people advocate that the laws changed and they are still not getting what they need work back with us because we may have to handle some of the most immediate ones literally hand walk you through the system and tell the system is up and running. My time has expired. I yield back. Thank you. At this time i would recognize the gentleman from new york mr. Higgins for five minutes. Thank you madam chair. Administrative urban Area Security Initiative Program originally started with 64 communities and was then reduced to 25 and bumped back up to 39. The criteria that was built into legislation which was intended to determine eligibility is something the community does not desire. They want to be put into the program. They are put into the Program Based on an independent analysis it says you have highimpact targets. The buffalo region that i represent has is the second busiest northern Border Crossing between United States and canada. As am i grab power project that produces the largest allotment of electricity in all new york state. Niagara falls is a destination of tens of millions of people every year from every country in the world. It has Toronto International city. It is home to the lackawanna six that were in an al qaeda Training Camp in afghanistan in several other justifications for including the buffalo region and the usc program. The last edition of inspire magazine which is a magazine distributed to jihadist throughout the world to encourage homegrown terrorism not only in the United States but throughout the world that magazine identified the buffalo region as being vulnerable to terrorist attack. This is not a distinction that we are proud of. I would think that Homeland Security would be very concerned about that specific reference because terrorism experts say regarding inspire magazine as a threat in and of itself in the magazine is intended to promote and encourage aspiring jihadist in the United States and around the world. What is the department of Homeland Security response for excluding the community that never asked to be included in this program in the first place and that was excluded and now this new information which is very alarming for anyone who lives in the community and it should be alarming for everybody in this administration that is responsible for that program . Again we could find jurisdiction by jurisdiction but the capability is to respond as a nation also have to be looked at. There are other jurisdictions who also have compelling reasons to think or justified they are on the list but its a finite capability and it is prioritized in the secretary reviews that list listen makes decisions based upon all threats not just populations, not just quick Critical Infrastructure not just threatened intelligence that looks at everything so there is no one single factor. It is based on an overall look at the nation and those communities are not being on that list does not mean we dont agree that there are finite resources and the secretary would have to prioritize which of the cities made that list. Because there is not a limitation to the list list. Climbing back my time. The new information but one region and the entire nation is identified by a magazine intended to inspire jihadist activity by jihad against communities attacks on the homeland, attacks on communities that have been deemed eligible. Their region did not request to become part of the program. It was brought into the Program Based on independent criteria that was established by Homeland Security officials. Now this new information is a Homeland Security official who is put in place as has a responsibility to protect the homeland. Does the reference of one community in this nation in inspire magazine that originates out of al qaeda and the Arabian Peninsula that promotes violent jihad against the homeland in specific communities does this new information cause concern on your part as a Homeland Security official for this nation . Im concerned about a lot of threats and im concerned about terrorism. You are not entering the question. The threats we look at. You run the program and i represent a Community Identified in inspire magazine which every terrorism expert recognizes is a thread in and of itself and you were telling me about wider jurisdiction. What do i say to my constituents sir . That we fund the nation and the state receives additional funds. We look at these threats across the nation. It is not to say that a jurisdiction does not have a mention or maybe specifically identified but it does say the funding decisions are based upon states nation threats based and we try to look at all the information to make decisions about where we are going to funded and what we can fund. Well this new information play into an evaluation of communities included or not . It potentially can depending on how the information or intelligence analysis is looking up is based upon threat information that is in public and looks at the Intelligence Community to verify whats in this. We have seen mismatches between the state of and what Intelligence Services will find out going home so we try to look at not only the public available information that the threat streams to make sure we are addressing these threats. Thank you. The chair now recognizes the gentleman from South Carolina for five minutes. Thank you madam chairwoman. Let me just say upfront up front that im a big fan both in my previous role in Government Services and frankly have grown to tremendously admire your work over the years. There will always be differences of opinion and thats what makes the world goround thats as much as i can say to maintain this notion of constitutionalism to be very important. There are a whole host of different perspectives based on jagger fit that the idea of having an overlay at the state level so one can look at competing demands and competing needs is i think essential to maximizing our effectiveness from the standpoint of security and from the standpoint of watching out for the taxpayer. I guess i have two quick questions. One is on Flood Insurance going back to my colleagues questions you know i think there was a real skepticism back home on the coast because if you are conservative you are skeptical of where the government might be coming from so the idea of saying show me the money or give me the money and then we will show you how the flood maps could fall out an exact ed worthy some shins are because as you know theres an egg world of difference in damage and by extension charges at a premium level whether or not storms are heading high tide or low tide and how many land falls go and different variables. Is there a place or when will there be a place by folks back home on the west coast or east coast might be able to look at some of those assumptions and say i agree with them or disagree with them and therefore i am coming up to speed what they like or what i dont like about the Flood Insurance. Lets hop to that one and i will come back for the second. Theres a hyperawareness because of the importance increases under biggertwaters but there is no such thing as a fema flood map. Fema provides the funding criteria but ultimately the local governments are part of that process and they adopt those maps by ordinance. They have to enforce building codes based on those maps so theres a hyperawareness. We need to make sure the public is aware because wendys maps were originally proposed that is one public, could come in and that we will use the best available data. See if i might understood but the way folks are telling what they felt back home to me was that the cart was before the horse. They were not sure from actuarial standpoint. Where will they be you will get a snapshot of that . The actuarial basis was looking at base Flood Elevation. We knew the risk was increasing almost exponentially for every 4 feet that a drop down. Example we ensure maximum 350,000 structure. If you are at base Flood Elevation thats about a 3200dollar policy and if you are a foot above its a 600dollar policy. If you are 4 feet below its a 72dollar so particularly in Coastal Carolina as we saw with hurricane hugo we can have a storm surge of 25 to 30 feet. That is what the risk is so you can see if you have homes up on stilts sitting 12, 13, 15 feet in the air you have serious problems. If you havent been elevated you can expect the Flood Insurance premiums to be extremely high. Is there a public place where folks might best look for that information . We put that information at fema. Gov and how the increases will affect. That is change with the change laws so we will be doing the calculations but again if you are at base Flood Elevation you are basically getting a neutral rate. If you are one foot above you get the preferred rates. If you are building at code you are good. The question has been the only update the maps what happens if you build the previous codes and new data says thats not high enough and now you get slapped with these increases. Again i appreciate congress trying to work on this concern we have. I have 26 seconds and 25 now. When will that affordability study be coming out . Based upon the guidance we got it will be a couple year process working with the researchers to build that data and look at affordability and what the impacts are. I will come back with another question later. The chair now recognizes the gentlelady from new york ms. Clark for five minutes. Thank you leary much Ranking Member and i think you honorable fugate for being here this morning. I have a question with respect to the Hurricane Sandy after report. Clearly Hurricane Sandy which has devastated the east coast and we are still trying to recover, we have seen fema really respond well with improved since Hurricane Katrina but we recognize that there was an after report and there is room for improvement. Could you give us a sense of what steps the has taken to address the corrective actions identified in these sandy after action reports of 2013 . This is true across a lot of different disasters, to make sure we are providing consistent information to the states about the requirement of federal purchasing guidelines and contracting requirements. This has been a systemic issue across all disasters where when that is unclear we oftentimes have been given Bad Information and contracting and the ig finds you are complying with federal store trying to make sure on the front and we are providing information. Another example is we did pilot programs and to get more flexibility with the recovery improvement act in addition to the supplemental funds so we are in the process of several things that we hope will speed up the process including an alternative project instead of waiting until projects are finished. We can do an estimate on the front in and fully fund the project. There are large projects both in new york and new jersey that are taking advantage of that. Hopefully when you speed up the Recovery Process you maintain the responsibility of the taxpayers. I hope you also get guidance of that special pilot where subcontracting is concerned that same practitioner be applied. This is one of the key findings from the ig. There are many requirements in federal procurement and contracting that would apply to subcontractors and fema had not done a good job of enforcing that so what we are doing is putting people at the front end sub grantees are working on these projects we make sure they understand all the federal procurement laws that is applicable. If you are taking federal dollars its never just state or local procurement law. You have to have federal procurement law which would address those issues. Outstanding. You spoke about grants and i want to turn your attention around the fema preparedness grant proposal. Can you provide specific examples of changes fema made to address concerns raised by stakeholders with this consolidation . There are several but we can provide more information. One of the very specifics is because we want to look at consolidation the 9 11 act refers to specific government entities. That will potentially leave out certain port entrance of groups. We have included in the authorizing lens to expand the definition. Thats the only recently reason we put the language into it. There were some very specific groups of previously received Homeland Security funding that would be limited unless we offer it. We cannot give a consolidated grant without authorization or we would potentially have groups left out. Very well. In closing it the question about npgp. A draft authorizing legislation included with the budget request that npgp would build a sustained core capability identified of the National Preparedness goal. Unfortunately firefighting would be a key element of any response to a terrorist attack. Dhs does not identify firefighting is one of its core capabilities. With the administrations npgp program eliminate funding that have historically received as gsp funds . No maam, they are to two standalone grants aware type two specifically for fire department. Again this is not for the primary firefighting. Particularly things like rescue enhancement teams which often times firefighters focus on are not the daytoday operations of the Fire Departments of this is the Homeland Security. It doesnt speak to the daytoday responses as your local taskbased. It speaks to the enhancement to local security threats. What firefighters to be eligible for you aussie funds . Yes. Thank you and i yield back madam chair. Madam chair i ask unanimous consent that the gentleman from texas be allowed to participate in todays hearing. At this time i would turn it over to the gentlelady from texas ms. Jacksonlee for five minutes. Thank you madam chair and thinking thank you for your courtesy. Mr. Fugate its good to see you again. Thank you very much. I have a series of questions. This is a very important subcommittee be coming from texas we have seen you often and we have seen fema often and we certainly thank you for your service. I want to start out with your mission which is our First Responders as a nation working together to improve capabilities and so my questions will follow along those lines. Presently the houston area is suffering a Devastating Oil spill. I dont know whether or not we have requested a request for a disaster status and i would ask you whether you have received any inquiries from the state of texas regarding the oil spill in the galveston houston area . Note congresswoman. Im aware of it and they know the federal response cleanup. Im not aware. We will have region six reach out and i have not heard anything of from the the state f texas but i too know the coast guard and epa art for dating the response to the cleanup. As i left it was creeping into local communities so i would ask if region six could contact my office as well regarding this and to that point i would assume the oil spill would be at no notice event. Did you use all of your no notice funding for the last fiscal year and is a carry over or is this going to be enough . Usually it would depend if there is uninsured or uncovered losses. That would have to be determined that because you have fully funded Disaster Relief fund we are able to maintain response in those events as well as the ongoing previous disasters. You feel you are in good shape . Is that what you are saying . Yes congressman. Previously it was a struggle to have the money. With a Budget Stabilization agreement and fully funding for Disaster Relief Fund Congress has enabled fay to respond to our existing previous disasters as well as maintaining the capability for node otis caps for disaster response. I just want to continue on the issue of the oil spill. I know theres the self reimbursement of those who are responsible but im also looking at the immediacy of the response let me publicly madam chair and Ranking Member thank the u. S. Coast guard as they have done a stupendous job. I know this is not this hearing and im abdicating for the full funding. Quickly to the Flood Insurance as you well know legislation was just past. In times past have i had the fema director in my town working the flood maps because they literally destroyed whole communities in terms of the value of their homes. Are you all including now immediately i know it was dealing with the insurance aspect of it but does that legislation to reform that was just past impact how you do the flood maps . There are key provisions in biggertwaters it requires an Advisory Committee and provides more validation of the methodology so as we are implementing and going through that we will provide provide reports that, timeframes. Part of this was to have outside validation of the criteria and more clarity in the appeal process for communities to use. Can we as members of Congress Reach out to our communitys en bloc in large numbers so we can make sure we have this issue in my district. He was frankly very helpful in saying this is not the interpretation. Through regional our Headquarters Staff is always available to you. Speeches to make mention the tragedy in Washington State in the hope that youll be heading there and others in the region but the disaster looks like its growing and again i want to thank the responders of my Washington State. My colleague from new york asked about firefighters. We are presently having just i think devastating brownouts in the state of texas. I think you come from a Firefighter Community in terms of not having fire stations and equipment and personnel out on the streets. Could we enhance our Homeland Security response because our Homeland Security responsibilities are being diminished. We have the Energy Industry so what kind of branch could be utilized that would legally fit within utilizing more firefighters in the needs that we have in our community . I will have staff brief you on on the program city of two funded by congress to aig and the safer grants one that refers to funding personnel during these types of crises and the others about equipment. As far as Washington State the region has been engaged. The governor made a verbal request and the president granted it. We have Incident Support teams on site but many of the resources being deployed are Washington State resources built with the Homeland Security grants of the programs. That you are standing ready for anything that they need in as much as i understand they are in searchandrescue mode . Its a very dangerous situation. The best way to describe the mudslide is like quicksand. Its almost an Impossible Task to get to some of the areas to become become more stabilized so there are many responders standing by but in some cases they can get into the hardest hit areas because its too unstable and too dangerous. Let me thank you very much. These are ongoing issues to both of you and thank you so very much for allowing me this time and with that i yield back. Thank you so much for your reminder to all of us about the dangers not only coast guard response but this incredible dangerous situation of the mudslide and her colleagues brought back to our attention and several lives of ben los aware praying for the safety of the First Responders. We are beginning our second round of questioning im going to do for my five minutes of questioning and turn it over to the gentleman from mississimississi ppi for a second round of questioning for five minutes. Thank you again madam chair. There are several cities and counties along mississippis gulf coast that were devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2006 read many of our peers along the gulf coast were destroyed and had to be repaired. For example Henderson County posts gustav approval processes and repaired guidelines. This include waiting on Environmental Impact studies before constructing the pair. August 2012 hurricane isaac hit and destroyed minnick appears again in fema declared the coast a disaster area. Since that time Harrison County the city of gulfport and the city of long beach have edition for Disaster Relief funds to rebuild peers. Discouragingly fema has denied their request because it has insisted on putting these through additional environments will impact studies even though the same peers were subjected to Environmental Impact studies completed only a few years earlier. The work involves repairs on existing structures. We are not talking about completelcompletel y rebuilding the peers are the structures. Many in south mississippi and to me this is the price prime example of bureaucratic red tape at its worst worst. Is it really necessary to repeat the Environmental Impact study to have a study completed a few years earlier . In congressman i would have to look into that. The general criteria used when you are over 50 destroyed with to follow the law which requires a review for an investment of federal dollars however one of the directions the president has given us is to speed that process up so we are not going through concurrent loops in each agency is a slice of that so we are trying to improve that process but again i will hope have to go back and look but generally when we look at something over 50 we consider that not payers and that may be triggering it but it will have to get details for you. Please do because we are already entering into the Spring Season and it would be nice to begin construction and have it completed before the summer months. We did an Environmental Review a few years ago and we were not completely rebuilding the structures but repairing them. It would make sense to the taxpayer that why waste additional funds . We have been pushing more and more to take these types of projects and move them into concurrence where its not required for formal review. I will have to find out what is triggered this on the spears though. Going back to Flood Insurance and this is something i was thinking about this morning, more and more communities will be mapped into the flood planes which is of course making people much more aware of the possibility that their rates will increase. The mudslides in washington, Homeowners Insurance does not cover mudslides. Is it true that you need Flood Insurance premium to cover that . I would need to do for bed. I think it depends on if you are talking about shifting soils are a mud flow caused by flooding. In general when you have flooding producing mudflows because the damages caused considered flood damage. Real quick biggertwaters authorized monthly installment premiums and fema has not implemented this section. Now that h. R. 3370 a law signed this past friday again emphasizes that Congress Wants homeowners to be able to spread their premiums and cost to 12 months. How quickly will fema implements monthly installment payments for premiums . Again i would just as soon do it as quick as i can but we we are in the process of collecting and paying the premium back into the program so i need to get to why does it take longer . One of the concerns has always been they only buy for the months of Hurricane Season wont buy for the rest of the year. We are going to go back and seek damages to get that money back but i think its one of these issues that i look at in the same way and why can we get the installment program but i would be happy to get you more information. I have a followup from my colleague from the east coast. He mentioned some ample concerns and im going to jump through the narrative and just go through the heart of my question. What efforts have fema taken to ensure accurate mapping information is being used . We are not doing a very good job. We are 27 billion in the hole so someone did not map right. We will have additional questions for the record. I now turn it over to the Ranking Member the committee mr. Payne for five minutes. Thank you madam chair. I believe it was stated before but its just such a concern for the past few years. The congress in the budget request consolidating 18 Grant Programs in favor of maintaining discrete Grant Programs for preparedness and response to terrorism. Indeed the last years full Committee Hearing the Boston Marathon the boston bombings, the Boston Police commissioner stated that without Grant Funding response would have been much less comprehensive than it was and without the exercise supported through this uasi funding there would have been more people who would have died in these attacks and thats a quote. What do you say to the people who are concerned that without the discrete Program Specific capabilities that there will be a rise in terrorism preparedness and response . Again to be respectful congressman notwithstanding the proposal for you proposal for you to know and i may be hardheaded ive never failed to implement what congress has authorizeauthorized and funded to the letter of the law. What this really goes back to is not talking about not funding the city of boston by giving greater oversight and structures to the states to boston versus bypassing the governor to the state and including them in that process. So this is not about taking money away from jurisdictions but more giving visibility to the state so they have the overall responsibility for this offense to ensure that all of the issues in the state are funded and they may be again when you look at how we are driving the threat information is going to point to the cities but it does give the governor and the Governors Team more oversight responsibilities and hopefully by increasing the competitiveness building more capability in the parts of the country where it is lacking. What if the governor doesnt see things the way you see them where you have funded the cities because what you have determined and the governor doesnt necessarily agree with you . Thats the great debate of our country sir in congress often time finds itself in disagreement with the governor and you have the authority have have as keepers of the purse to make those authority decisions. Unlike other programs once it disasters triggers a certain level of falls under the state constitution and the powers that originated in that constitution is unique to every state. Bypass that and i have seen it set up ms. Past mismatches and unlike a lot of programs in this case it is the authority is vested in the state constitution that drive how a status built the team how they will prevent that and some states put greater process on state and local Law Enforcement. You have what i call the new york said the world that are so large that they are a special category by themselves. They all originate from the state constitution. Oftentimes we work around what we dont like about that but in a disaster i have to work a system and support the system to the best of my ability because thats the foundation of our response. Fema does not walk in and take charge. We respond to the request of the governor and so this is a question philosophically of how do we best do that but also understand that we have to look not just jurisdiction by jurisdiction but across the nation and understand we may not get hit when we had expect and we have the capability to respond outside of these areas because we look at austin and we note look at new york is huge resources may be called upon elsewhere in this country. In new jersey specifically with the uasi grant they worked well with the state. Keith isaacs has reached back and brought the men on the process so it works, its working backwards. We are just not sure if it came in new jersey situation if it would work back the other way but thats our problem i guess. But what about the terrors and capabilities that these grants and consolidations . Again we put emphasis on things that are prevention things like Fusion Centers. A lot of this information and booking at how you get the best intelligence and how the look of these threats, there is no specific settles satisfied. When you do a 25 set aside, if you limited to 25 thats all they will get. If you dont put a cap on it there may be more money in the front and that we have to look at this based on threats. Again we are more than willing to work with the community to derive those outcomes of the state implements of Congress Reflecting the needs of local communities. To go back to a system that goes through consolidation so we can look at this nationally. But what if this was less . That is always going to be the potential. Thats the call the state would have to make in the state would be accountable to their citizens taxpayers and their voters. Its their constitution and its their state. Thank you madam chair. I go back through. The chair now recognizes the gentleman from South Carolina for five minutes. Just to delve in a little deeper if you are looking at the overall 10 billiondollar budget and specifically at fema you pick your category but if you were to pick the two areas of the biggest duplication that jump out at you what that would they be . This will make me real popular. Beach rainer schmitt. What Mother Nature takes away we have to put back and we spend a lot of money on sand. Its one of our largest cost. Its primarily an economic issue and i understand that but it its Budget Constraint times. We have to make decisions about our our beach is tied to your tie to commerce . Again i think we have to look at that. The other thing is the overhead response to disasters because we have all the systems built around a reimbursement of actual cost. I think we can show significant savings because Congress Gave the ability and when you were governor and you have projects we would go through year after year and looking at every dollar to authorize it. You have to rebuild the fire station. Lets figure out what its going to cost versus waiting till you do every project. How we look at the overhead costs and how we look at some things and make decisions about, it would be nice to do a lot of things and florida beaches are a key part of our economy but again you can look at beaches versus other things and if you have to make decisions about what you can and cant fund beaches fall into the category that its economic but its not National Security and not Public Safety and less its protecting the Critical Infrastructure. Its more economic. Knowing the storms come in and take out a lot of these beach improvements and we come back next year faced with the same situation. So their renourishment programs on miami beach . I think its primarily an economic assistant at the state of florida thinks its important have to fund it. The sand overhead can we get more specific in terms of a specific area . An area that jumps out at you when you look at the federal state and overlaid with regard to security maps and i remember seeing up close if you look at these contractor logins efficiency is not one driver at the time of the storm but there is a lot of profit margin built into some of these contractor numbers. Is there efficiency you have seen us bar is best practice . Congressman he remembered the system was actually bladed to the contractors to pick up debris versus your own folks because you couldnt get straight timeout of it. We have the sandy improvement at that is gone. We did more during the tornadoes in oklahoma the summer where instead of forcing jurisdictions to use contractors because they will be fully reimbursed for that we recognized a lot of times they will be faster and cheaper to pick up debris. Right now South Carolina if they choose to they can use a contractor or they can use their own crews and we will not penalize them for using what we would call straight time for folks at our already paid for. Can i interject madam chairwoman . This is a big point because the degree of money wasted in that particular program was particularly egregious that had to have the labor force and capacity to work on it you get no reimbursement and you say lets just do the contractors of the other guys are idling while the monies being spent at a contractor level. We currently implemented that in the Sandy Recovery act. I think we will be able to make a good case to make this permanent. Its not to say we dont need contractors but we shouldnt take the existing workforce out of the picture because we have a robust as you can only pay overtime when this is oftentimes the fastest way to get the debris up in the most costeffective. Is their particular stovepipe in the federal state overlay that doesnt work as well as you would like to see . I hearken back to the Environmental Review piece about. As the president pointed out we cannot suspend law but we can certainly look at do we have to have every agency did each piece of this sequentially or can we do concurrent and come to consensus on some things we set aside. When we do it, do it so that it does one for everybody not each agency and if you remember his governor sometimes you may be using hud dollars engineering dollars and we require separate fees for the same project. We are past that and we are working to make sure that whatever one of these agencies does it first its for all the federal dollars going to the project so we are not repeating these reviews over and over again with different requirements. My time has expired. I want to thank you for that question. Now we turn it over to the gentleman from new york mr. Higgins for five minutes of questions. Thank you. [inaudible] have a national Flood Insurance Program Policies but not a single one has been shown new data demonstrating their continued need to be in a highrisk flood zone. Oftentimes communities are told by fema that if they undertake certain flood mitigation projects the widening of channels, the design of new bridges, perhaps fewer peers, the raising of bridges and other flood mitigation initiatives that those communities, there is less of a risk of catastrophic flooding and thus they come out of a highrisk area thus reducing the premiums that they have to pay. So i know that remapping is a big part of this program so could you give us the status as to the remapping and when it would be finished and what steps the mice taking to ensure the inaccuracy in categorizing highrisk flood zones . For the record i would like to respond in writing. I will tell you something the communities can do that exist right now thats a Community Rating system. The Community Rating system is something they can apply for now and get discounts based on a lot of things they do already maintaining drainage ditches providing community information. The Community Rating system as a scale of one through 10. Just moving from a 10 to a nine will give you a 5 acrosstheboard discount for all including your highrisk. Not only is the remapping and i wanted to get the information about your community but the Community Rating services and other programs that you can use outside of remapping to start applying discounts for things you can do to reduce flood risk Stormwater Management plans and maintenance records and start getting discounts for businesses and their residential insurance policies. That is very helpful. Now can we get back to the buffalo Area Security issue . I yield back. Thank you sir. At this time i turn it over to ms. Clarke from the state of new york for five minutes of questions. Thank you very much madam chair. Under the lan security Grant Program the law allows states to pass through 80 of the funding to locals. Some have indicated they have had little opportunity for input and sometimes little opportunity to consent to state use of funds. How would npgp address this issue to ensure that local governments truly have use of the 80 passthrough to apply to their specific needs . Again its going to be based upon working through the states and i understand is here and i would refer back to the Ranking Member as well as the chair to work with you with authorizing language to drive those kinds of outcomes but i think again you have to look at the standpoint of in some states state agencies provide a lot of the capabilities of the 80 20 rule works against those states where the greater resource was a state agency but because we are capped at 80 locally you couldnt fund them. We will work with the committee but i would recommend and we have to recognize their 50 states in the territories and commonwealth of puerto rico that is not always going to be the same. Understand in the northeast their large city structures and why it is different but again we have one program we are trying to make fit back to the structures of the states role and ensure your desire to make sure funding gets to specific issues and communities based on threats. Its really challenging and i think we do have to acknowledge the nuances because new york city and new york state is unique and its very challenging given whatever dynamics may be happening in the state at a given time to have that not have the defensibility to be able to address the unique needs of that particular locality. The structure and florida local jurisdictions had pure review. The peer review process was the most effective way. Swan to say one thing to say do we really need that in our response and will we have gaps so there are mechanisms that some states use successfully by discipline and the peer review process that drives Better Outcomes than any single arbitrator for one person making these decisions. Would you say that pair review process should be given some sort of rating that enables it to have those differences mediated . Again this would be an opportunity to work with the committee and the authorizing language to drive back of my experience has been when i have an expert sitting at the table i have the fire chiefs of Police Chiefs sheriffs Public Health officials support folks and theyre also looking at all the threats making these decisions as a group and having to come to consent on those it eliminates any one agency bias or any one discipline bias. I gives back the balance of my time. The chair recognizes the gentlelady from texas. I just have one inquiry. We had a discussion about constables talking about making sure they could be a recipient of creance. Can we please collaborate again to have discussions of language . That is a Law Enforcement structure in the state of texas and i advocated for them to be eligible for grants jerry emergency time. Thank you for that reminder and our staff will work with your staff from that. I would ask administrator teeeighteen if you recognizes local jurisdictions if you would like to opine on the constables while we have you here . Every state has a unique structure by bypassing we dont recognize. It would give Greater Authority to make them part of the plan with different parts of the country so when you do these things how do we make sure this is one more example of giving greater flexibility so the states deal with unique positions that would not necessarily be in every state. I say look forward to working with the gentlelady to learn of the constable responsibilities. 84 the courtesy. In the instance of texas was a mistake can probably something forgotten without review because our constables continually do exercise of Homeland Security but i want that on the record to work to both directions but the federal government needs to give guidance to states when they havent thought of these collaboration. Brings me back to the decision to consolidate the states and local grant prepared this programs. Without requesting significant level of funding. But as i looked at the long list my perception is the sophisticated entities will overcome those who are much smaller and less sophisticated. And ac them matching up with the urban area initiative. For the time i have been on the committee i have talked about the psittacine corporation. I am carious the transfer security grants matched against the other Grant Programs and the other issue is as free organize these elements makes it convenient but Homeland Security is designed after 11 about terrorism and the focus of terrorism. This is a mistake. It smudges sort confuses to create smoke and mirrors. From those who opined it is proficient a and the efficient individuals who are overcome with a good idea of a local volunteer fire fighter. Do we have the opportunity to change this . Is there any way to bifurcate that terrorism elements do you have enough money . The administration is asking for those constraints but i would go back to the question i think a consensus process gives a better outcome. I do know those jurisdictions the last couple of years they have been consolidated did way. But the last couple clinton and years is broken down to the homeless security gripped camera urban security in competitive grants. So it has been separated even though it is the allowed expense and but i was in new york city they have the very robust Response Team that responded and is supported through the homeland that the city had funded those programs. But through appropriations we are now into three broad categories that is eligible funding. Is there sufficient emphasis of the terrorism structure . Yes. But we have to walk look at all the threats and the capability. Although we fund primarily those threats against a nation it is designed to be dualuse. Some of the Natural Hazards have a significance that go beyond the reimbursement. There are several notable Natural Hazards one that doesnt only have the damage to the hurricane but disrupt the refinery that has implications far beyond that is why rely cat hazards. It is some natural hazard to produce threats we have to look at what those responses require. And i yield back and will continue to inquire. Thank you. And also for that continued focus of terrorism and response. Administrator fugate i mentioned during my opening remarks, i recognize myself myself, we had to social immediate hearings and once again we crowds source questions during the chat on a twitter the majority of which add extensive experience in now to have input to to appreciate there inside. But i certainly hear it and see it in local communities with each of those eight counties with local officials one concern we have this is Emergency Management offices often lack the communication skills or the resources they dont know how to maintain social Media Operations to validate the information they received on social media. It says a of terrific job but what are we to update social media . And how do we help to train those First Responders to incorporate social media into the Preparedness Plan . I want to respond correctly. We have tools to help bring its fat but to bridge that but besides my salary when i started in 1987 i learned patrick. You have come along way. Other peoples money. No Emergency Management response there was government or private sector. What i had to do back then even a fax machine to recruit officers and work with the fire department. It is always a staffing issue that will local level including volunteers. With that advice that the department is giving that is what i shared with members that they often do have the Mayors Office or share of department. Now they start to look at how they use social media we had a trading course to challenge but now we still talk about twitter and facebook so part of this is engaging other people in the committee to serve that goal and to learn techniques and provide resources is. Said judges to consolidate all the feeds in one place so the public does not know who to follow we give the states all the local feeds then will build the so the public has the place called the social hall of the. You may have social media but nobody knows about it before a disaster then they dont know where to look. We try to point back. So people know that is where it is coming from. Six to the public Officers Training anybody can take it you could go to fema. Gov. It is the practitioner level. We try to build a of a network and there is a lot of concepts about the information but part of the trick is we try to move beyond to issue a press release to listen to the public how to make decisions that are not always official but may have some information relevant . Can you share with us whether the of mudslide or hurricane see andy, how much information or Emergency Responders are getting through social media . It depends on the skills and experience. We had a hurricane moving it up a the carolina coast. Local officials were not doing much i was reading the tweets they said to get the tourists out so i could go back and say they heard you. Theyre getting the tourists out but they dont think the threat doesnt warrant them to evacuate but some time grounds source says here is what i said here is what they think i said it is great to get out that tourists but it could be stronger and we can change the message. But if you dont know how they receive it you dont know if theyve heard what you thought you meant. We never have happened then we dont understand why the public is understood and but now you can adjust to the message maybe theyre not getting what we think is critical. I want to applaud you and fema to take the lead about the importance of social media during mass disasters or preparedness and response. Now we will go to a brief round of questioning now going over to the Ranking Member for five minutes. Just to sit back on the conversation prior to my last round, local Police Departments played a crucial role in the Law Enforcement terrorism of prevention funding is specifically for prevention. Trying to figure out the rationale setaside across all those threats whether or not there is additional funds understanding your concern about how we make sure these events occur in have representation is where i would like. We divided the state in the region. That process was given by the discipline below polls give us a better group of anyone doing independently. By a understand the concern with the appropriation language but we need to come back to look haggling to the states to look at national driven one of the capabilities and prevention and what funding may be required. Sometimes that is as much as you would get if you say 25 percent that could invest 25 . Just the topic in with Hurricane Sandy elates october in new jersey to sign the Disaster Relief appropriations react to put 50 million into supplemental appropriations related to the consequences of Hurricane Sandy to what extent do it it is that extended . We focus on the Emergency Response we try to get that done. That is the first thing the jurisdiction has to pay that is extraordinary cost. To fund that on the front end as much as we can. You have given a couple of tools starting to get traction. This could sound very bureaucratic but it gives the ability to give the best estimate to fully fund the project. Some of the larger projects that we get to closure what that is. This also may slow us down a lot but i am trying not to use the traditional cost benefit Analysis Police to look to the past if we build the waste water pump station we need to build it for the future with different investment more on the front end is a we dont have to replace with the consequences the next time. You have heard me loud and clear to you follow the constitution and the states rights and you have seen what is going on in new jersey and using the funds for leverage in other than what they are prescribed for. What type of oversight does the fema perform to make sure they go to where theyre needed to make sure the funds are managed effectively . Limit their risk no direction by the state it is determining what is funded so there is not a lot of discussion at the state level. Were also looking with the state a. M. Local jurisdictions on their Hazard Mitigation plan all bush back from hurricane irene to the get repetitive loss areas. But talk about our funds are directly tied to damages or expenses. There is not discretion about prioritizing but where did it occur and is eligible . We will get you the numbers from c and d and how much has been allocated for nurses how much still remains to be written. I yield back. Krispy mckewon indicate right now the state of new jersey does not have much discretion that the funds are directed by fema . The state is the grantees some apply but who determines that funding is based on the county declared and as they get those figures they make those reimbursements. We are speeding up some of those areas. To give a comparison of what the spending looks like now purses other disasters. What has come up in my jurisdiction is Flood Insurance. It created a Flood Insurance advocate the purpose is to provide home owners with a single point of contact for them to a answer the questions that we have. Could you share what is the current plans and what would we anticipate the time line for implementation . We looked at this when the language was drafted. We thought it was the good idea. It better be more than one person is so to look at a separate advocacy groups so the reporting structure in the valuation is not tied to other programs goals or objectives of their independent. Although it is part of the Flood Insurance program for gras will have to respond in writing but as she began promoting that we agree it is say a good idea. And to start that program up to. To follow up with respect with the fema certified with as implemented the Flood Mapping Program with deifies three council. It was created in 2012 to the point in time that it has not yet established by a fema so what is the timeline for that very Important Council to begin reviewing and improving the accuracy . If we refer to the fema flood map . Those rules were created we solicited the applications and i dont have the data but were in the process of implementing that so there was a solicitation. I just have to get back when the first scheduled meeting will start to. From many members of the subcommittee and across the country the issues with the flood mapping and the log that was just signed last week is Still Critical across the country. We want to work with you to ease the pain of so many home owners across the country. Think you administrator fugate for your valuable testimony. It is clear to me and anyone listening local state federal experience is still very valuable suv of this agency that sees more and more action across the country and we want to support you with your responses to questions about your budget. Members of the subcommittee may have additional questions please respond to to those in writing in addition to those. Thank you for your service we are critically important to communities all across the country. The hearing record will be open without wit for seven days and of the committee stands adjourned. [inaudible conversations] last night brought to us and another delay of obamacare. Another deadline made meaningless. There is enough loopholes already now it is resorting to the honor system to enforce its. This is a joke. This is part of a longterm pattern of this administration manipulating the law for its own convenience it is not hard to understand why the people question the commitment to the rule of law. Can you talk about moving another piece of legislation this week . Is a concrete fashion what to expect the results to be with Vladimir Putin . Are you expect him to pull back from crimea . What is the concrete outcome limit we have allies in central and Eastern Europe and western europe. Who ask the question wheres the line . What we try to do is work with the administration to give them tools to stand up to putin is a question. I will let the Administration Top of their goal but ours is to make sure they have the tools the most effective tools available to deal with a difficult situation. That means crimea is gone . We will continue to work with B Administration one thing that did not become known and tell the of the 80s from the the the fbis scholar withdrew a file from the freedom of information act that was something that had taken place 1940 through 1966 when the fbi had a formal relationship with the American Legion that members, 100,880 members acted as informers for the fbi in their communities and record of the filed reports with the fbi. Americans had no idea that kind of information was taking place and they were not trained to. [cheers and applause] thank you so much. Please have a seat. Good evening. [speaking french] [speaking german] [applause] before schaede gave now she told me not to be nervous. [laughter] i can only imagine i think her father is in the audience i can only imagine how proud he is of her. We are grateful for her work but she reminds us cover future will be defined by young people like her. Your majesty, mr. Prime minister, and the people of belgium come on behalf of the American People we are grateful for your friendship misti and together as the inseparable ally and i thank you for your wonderful hospitality. It is easy to love the country that is famous for chocolate and pierre. [laughter] leaders and dignitaries of the European Union representatives of our nato alliance, distinguished guests from a week we tear at a moment for europe and the United States and the International Order we have worked for generations to build. Throughout History Society has grappled with fundamental questions of how to organize themselves. The proper relationship between the individual and the state. The best means to resolve the inevitable conflicts between states. And here it europe for centuries of struggle and war in and to enlightenment and revolution that a particular set of radials began to reemerge. A belief through freewill each of us has the right to live as we choose. The belief the power is derived from the consent of the governed and the laws and institutions should be protected for the understanding. Those ideas eventually inspired as a band of colonialist across an ocean that were roche into the founding documents that guide America Today with the simple truth that all men are and women are created equal. That we have been tested here in europe and around the world. Those ideals have been threatened by a and older were traditional view of power. The alternative beijing and argues ordinary men and women are too small minded to cover their own affairs. The order of progress can only happen when they surrender their race to the allpowerful sovereign. Often this alternative vision routes itself in the notion that by virtue of race of faith or ethnicity some are inherently superior and the individual identity must be defined by us versus them. Burgrave this must flow but not by what people steel for but what they are against. And in so many ways the history of europe represents the ongoing clash of these two sets of ideas among nations. The events of industry and technology al pace our ability to address the differences peacefully and even among the most Civilized Society is on the surface we see the barber is some. This morning i was reminded how of war between people said degeneration to their death from the first world war. Two decades later, a stream nationalism plunged this continent into war once again with great cities reduced to rubble and tens of millions slaughtered including those in the holocaust. Is in response to this tragic history that in the aftermath of world war ii american george with europe to reject reject the darker forces to build a new architecture of peace. Workers and engineers gave life to the marshall plan. Sentinels stood vigilant of an alliance the strunc is the world has ever known. Across the mandate we embraced a shared vision of europe based dog representative democracy. In individual rights. And a belief that nations with the social safety net for respect of those of different faith a and background. For decades until stood in sharp contrast to life on the other side of the iron curtain. For decades a contest was waged. Not because of tanks or missiles but the hong carrions sparked a revolution and those that wage jay revolution but does not fire a shot. They finally toward down that wall. Today what would have seemed to. But the reality is taken for granted. A germany unified, the nations of central and Eastern Europe will come into the family, here in this country what is the battleground of corrupt . We meet in the hub of the union to have age old adversaries of peace and cooperation. The people of europe europe, hundreds of millions are more secure and prosperous because we stood together for the ideals that we share. This story was not limited to europe for both the adl cave from to inspire movements and from those that have been denied their rights by western powers. After the Second World War people from africa the to india through of colonialism to secure independence. The United States citizens took freedom riots and endured beatings to put an end to segregation to secure civil rights. As the iron curtain fell the iron fist of apartheid was opened a and Nelson Mandela emerged upright and proud from prison. To lead a multiracial democracy. Latin america in nations rejected dictatorship and asian nations showed they could go hand in hand. The young people in the audience to date like laura at a place and time where there is less conflict, more prosperity and more freedom than at any time in human history. But that is not because man starkest impulses have finished. Even here we have seen of the cleansing of the balkans that which shocks the conscience. With globalization to provide private worst economic crisis and of the lives of politics that targets immigrants are those that seem different world and has the last opportunity for cultural understanding it allows a terrorist to kill on a horrifying scale. Conflicts continue to claim thousands of lives and once again we are confronted with the belief that bigger nations kiam small police smaller ones to get their way. So i come here today to insist we must never take for granted their progress that has been one here in europe period in advance around the world. Because the contest of ideas continues for your generation. That is what is at stake in the ukraine today. Russian leadership is challenging that only a few weeks ago the truth seemed selfevident. The 21st century the borders cannot be redrawn with force but International Law matters. The people of nations can make their own decisions about their future. If we define our interest nearly we might decide to look feat of their way. It is that deeply integrated with the ukraine. We have no to direct threat from the invasion of arabia and our own borders are not threatened by the russian annexation. But that type of casual indifference ignore the lessons written in the cemeteries of this continent. It would allow the old way to do business, to wreak aid a foothold that message would be heard and africa and the middle east and those consequences that would arise with the impact that they have on the lives of real people, men and and women just like us have to enter into and wrapped in a flag expressing every country should live by the law. students speaking of fellow protesters i want these people to have dignity. Imagine you are the of one who said there are some things that fear, police sticks, and tear gas cannot destroy. We have not met these people. But we know them. Their voices call for Human Dignity bringing about for generations. Their voices echoed those around the world to fight for their dignity at this very moment. The is ukrainians rejected a government that was stealing from the people and reaching for the same ideals that allow us to be here today. None of us can know for certain what the coming days will bring in the ukraine. But i am confident that the bench to lead those voices for human data day and opportunity and individual rights ultimately will try of try of. Over the long haul nations that are free as free people, the future is ours. I believe this not because i am naive for the strength or the size of the economy but because of the ideals that we affirm our true, universal, yes, we believe in democracy with the elections free and fair. Independent judiciary is and opposition parties. Civil society and uncensored information so individuals can make their own choices. Yes, we believe in open economies based on free markets and innovation and individual leadership and training and investment or brodeur prosperity. And yes we believe in Human Dignity that every person is created equal the matter who you love for where you come from or what you look like. That is what we believe. That is what makes us strong. Our enduring strength is reflected in our respect for the International System that protects the rights of those nations and people. A United Nations and universal declaration of human rights. International law and the means to enforce those laws. But we also know that those rules are not self executing and depend on people and nations of good will to continue the efforts of them that is why it be a violation of the International Law by russia is on ukraines integrity must be met with condemnation. Not because we try to keep fresh touchdown but the principles that have meant so much to europe and though world must be lifted out. Over the last several days the United States, europe and our partners around the world have been united in defense of these ideals to the of the ukrainian people. Together we condemned the russian invasion and rejected the of legitimacy of the referendum. Together we have isolated russia politically suspending from dead g8 and downgrading bilateral ties. We are imposing cost through sanctions that have left a mark on russia and those accountable for its actions. And if the russian leadership stays on the current course together we will ensure this isolation deepens. Sanctions will expand with the toll on the russian economy as well as expanding in the world will only increase. Made while the United States and our allies will continue to support that government as they chart a course. We will provide a a significant package of assistance to stabilize the economy to meet the basic needs of the people. Make no mistake either the United States nor europe has any interest in controlling the ukraine. What we want is for the ukrainian people to make their own decisions just like other free people around the world. Understand this is not another cold war be entering into. After all id like the soviet union the United States and nato to the stake and a conflict we have come together at over 60 years to keep the nations three. But what we will do always is upfold the solemn obligation article five duty to defend the integrity of our allies and we promise you will never waver. The table lot standalone. Today planes patrol the skies over the baltics and the reinforced our presence and are prepared to do more. Going for verge every nato members state must step up to carry its share of the burden of the collective defense by developing the capabilities as a source of peace and security. Of course, ukraine is that a member of nato because of the close history with russia. Nor will russia and will suffer by military force. As long as we remain united become with the russian people will not they cannot have security and prosperity through brute force. We will put pressure it long dash pressure on russia for the open door of diplomacy. I believe for both ukraine and russia it will come through the escalation direct dialogue between the government of the ukraine and International Community and those who can ensure the rights are all protected a process as constitutional reform and free and fair elections. So far russia has resisted diplomatic overtures to amass large forces along the border. Russia testifies is the efforts to protect ethnic russians inside the ukraine. Of course, there is no evidence and never has been a systematic violence against ethnic russians inside of the ukraine. Moreover many countries face similar questions about sovereignty and selfdetermination. They have led to debate and referendums. These are difficult issues than they are you being to be addressed because big countries cannot believe this will. Believe the small. To defend its actions russian leaders have claimed close above as an example to interfere in the smaller country but made only intervene to after kosovo people were killed over four years. And posole only left serbia after referendum was organized at outside the boundaries budding careful corporation with the coasts of both neighbors. None of that came close to happening with crimea. Moreover roszak has pointed to americas decision to go into iraq as western hypocrisy. It is true that the iraq war was of a subject of vigorous debate not just around the world but in the United States as well. I participated in that debate and i post our military intervention there but even iraq within the International System we did not claim or a anax the territory. We did die grab resources for our own game but instead we ended and left it to a fully sovereign of iraqi state that can make decisions about its own future. Of course, neither the United States nor europe are perfect in its appearance nor do we claim to be the sole arbiter of what is right to or wrong in the world. Were human after all. And we face difficult decisions how to exercise our power. But part of what makes us different is be welcome criticism. Just as we welcome the responsibilities that come with Global Leadership will look to the stand the south with nations on though world stage and we consider that a good thing if it is the diversity that makes us stronger as a nation and of what europe has a chance to over decades. In the world the challenges that are global real have been interest for the nations to step forward to play their part to bear their share of the burden to uphold the norms. Our approach is in stark but it is absurd to suggest that america is failing to respect the russian people. My grandfathers served in patterns are made just as your response against fascism. We americans remember that unimaginable sacrifices in world war ii and we have honored those. Since the end of the cold war we have worked with russia under Successful Administration to build ties of culture and International Community. Not as a favor to russia but it was we will come crashing into the g8 with the reduction of nuclear arms to serious chemical weapons we believe though world has benefited when russia chooses to cooperate of usual interest and respect. So america and the world and europe has an interest in a responsible brushup. Weve brushup we want them to have prosperity and dignity like everyone else. But that does not mean that russia can run over its neighbors. Just because a has a deep history with the ukraine does not mean it should dictate the future. No amount of propaganda can make right that the world knows is wrong. In the end every society must chart its own course. But on the fundamental principles that have been staked for them to break their own choices it was the ukrainians know Foreign Forces compelled the citizens of tripoli to rise up. They did so on their own from the burmese parliamentarians looking for reform or those looking for a tolerance we see something your reducible that wheelchair as human beings beings, truth to persevere in the face of violence and repression and will ultimately overcome. For the young people here today i know inmate be easy to see these removed from our lives and remote from the daily routine and distance to closer to home. I recognize this in the United States and much of europe there is more than enough to worry about with the affairs of our own countries. There will always be voices that say what happens is not our concern